![St. Jude patient Mischeel smiling with a yellow ribbon surrounding her.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/get-involved/other-ways/childhood-cancer-awareness-month/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_co_1852376681.img.16.medium.jpg/1722973069883.jpg)
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On average, more than 290 children and adolescents in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer every week.
Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped improve the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since the hospital opened in 1962. St. Jude leads more clinical trials for childhood cancer than any other children's hospital in the U.S.
About 90% of children with cancer live in low- and middle-income countries where they lack access to adequate diagnosis and treatment. Most of these children will die from their disease.
In high-income nations, such as the U.S., survival rates for pediatric cancers exceed 80%. To bridge this gap, St. Jude created St. Jude Global. This initiative brings together people, institutions and organizations for a common goal. They are dedicated to improving quality of care and increasing survival rates worldwide for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. St. Jude Global is organized into 7 regions and a growing number of programs that help gather and share knowledge. The St. Jude Global Alliance brings together almost 300 member institutions and foundations. They have created a global community that works together to address disparities in access to diagnosis and care around the world.
Worldwide, about 400,000 children and adolescents develop cancer each year. Only half of these children’s diseases are diagnosed.
To further advance cures, we share our research worldwide through data-sharing and analysis resources. St. Jude is the only World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating Centre for Childhood Cancer and has partnered with WHO to create the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer which aims to cure at least 60% (6 out of 10) of children with 6 of the most common cancers by 2030. St. Jude, WHO and other international partners are also developing the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines to address the inconsistent availability of quality essential cancer medicines.
Learn more about the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer >
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Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that causes 6 types of cancer. A safe and effective vaccine is available to provide long-lasting protection against HPV cancers.
Nearly everyone is exposed to HPV at some point in their lives. HPV vaccination is recommended for everyone ages 9–26 years and for some people aged 27–45 years. HPV vaccination is cancer prevention. Vaccination is especially important for childhood cancer survivors who are at an increased risk of developing HPV cancers in adulthood.
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Vanessa
Acute Myeloid Leukemia
You can never truly comprehend the battle being waged against cancer within those walls. The effort to save my child's life is truly remarkable.
— St. Jude patient Vanessa's father
Vanessa was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. She was referred to St. Jude where she received chemotherapy. She was placed on the protocol for AML 16, a clinical trial which involved epigenetic priming for chemotherapy.
Read her storyAcute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Leukemia
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer that affects blood cells called myeloid stem cells.
- AML is the second most common childhood leukemia.
- Treatment may include chemotherapy and stem cell (bone marrow) transplant.
St. Jude research on AML
Scientists advanced Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for AML by changing the design so that it could target two proteins, making it more effective.
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Azalea
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Seeing my child and other children fight for their lives made me realize that whatever I am faced with, I can get through it, just like they did. Each time I am confronted with a challenge, I envision the strength of a St. Jude patient.
— St. Jude patient Azalea's mother
Azalea was diagnosed with a soft tissue cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. At St. Jude, she started an intensive treatment plan that included chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
Read her story.Rhabdomyosarcoma
Soft tissue cancer
- Rhabdomyosarcoma is a type of soft tissue tumor that often develops in a muscle.
- It is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children.
- Treatment includes surgery along with chemotherapy and sometimes radiation therapy.
- Children who have rhabdomyosarcoma that has not spread have more than a 70% (7 out of 10) chance of long-term survival.
St. Jude research on rhabdomyosarcoma
Pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma usually starts in muscles, but not always. Scientists at St. Jude identified a specific mutated protein that could help doctors better understand which cells give rise to these tumors.
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Chance
Medulloblastoma
When you get this diagnosis and the love of your life has such impossible odds, the greatest gift anyone can give you is hope. And that’s what St. Jude has given us.
— St. Jude patient Chance's mother
Chance was diagnosed with medulloblastoma. At St. Jude, he underwent proton beam radiation therapy and chemotherapy to treat the cancer in his brain and spine.
Read his story.Medulloblastoma
Brain cancer
- Medulloblastoma is 1 of the most common cancerous brain tumors in children.
- Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
- Our brain tumor clinical trials have led to lower-intensity treatments for some patients based on the molecular class of medulloblastoma.
St. Jude research on medulloblastoma
Scientists at St. Jude discovered a new compound that selectively targets parts of a cancer-related protein called EP300/CBP in Group 3 medulloblastoma. This more specific targeted approach was more effective in the lab.
Spotlight on research and treatment
The mission of St. Jude is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.
St. Jude is committed to identifying novel therapies to improve survival rates for DIPG
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a type of high-grade glioma that is found in the brainstem. There is no known cure for DIPG. Fewer than 10% of the children diagnosed in the U.S. survive more than 2 years. St. Jude is committed to identifying novel therapies to improve survival rates for DIPG. DIPG treatment is aimed at lengthening survival time and involves radiation therapy . The use of chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy or cellular therapy is also being explored in clinical trials.
OUR CAUSE UNITES ALL
How to support childhood cancer awareness
Join St. Jude to raise awareness during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by participating in our activities and fundraising efforts. Let's rally behind a cause that truly unites us all: Finding cures. Saving children.® Together, we can help cure childhood cancer.
Your generous donation makes a difference*
Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
*Items listed here are representative of services and supplies that are part of the treatment and care of children at St. Jude. The cost of each item or service is an approximation, and will vary based on actual costs incurred and individual patient needs. Your donation will be used for the general operating needs of St. Jude, where no family ever receives a bill for treatment, lodging, travel or food.
Could help St. Jude provide one platelet count test for a St. Jude patient.*
Could help provide one rehabilitation ball for St. Jude patients.*
Could help provide two days of meals to a St. Jude patient.*
Could help provide medical teaching dolls for St. Jude patients.*
Every child deserves a chance to live their best life and celebrate every moment. When you support St. Jude, you can help make cures possible for kids with cancer. Together, we can save more lives.
Join St. Jude this September during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
![St. Jude patient Hunter. who has a prosthetic right leg, stands proudly while a yellow ribbon encircles him.](/content/experience-fragments/sjo/language-masters/en/site/campaigns/ccam/ccam-landing-donate/master/_jcr_content/root/container_2126888350/image.coreimg.jpeg/1724171500832/ribbon-page.jpeg)
St. Jude patient Hunter
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month FAQs
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Gold ribbon art by St. Jude survivor Tayde
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National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is in September.
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September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) — a time of year we and other organizations honor children and survivors affected by pediatric cancer in order to raise awareness and continue the research and treatment of the disease. Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 14.
September was proclaimed National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by President Obama in 2010.
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International Childhood Cancer Day is Feb. 15. This is a separate awareness day from Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
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The color gold and the gold ribbon are symbols of support for children affected with cancer.
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You can promote childhood cancer awareness by sharing this page with friends, family and colleagues, or #ShowYourGold this September by sharing a picture while wearing gold on any of your social media accounts, like Instagram.
You can also show your support for the kids of St. Jude by shopping for CCAM gold items in our gift shop.
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You can find Childhood Cancer Awareness T-shirts and other items that show your support for the kids of St. Jude by shopping for CCAM gold items in our gift shop.
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September is the awareness month for several kinds of cancer in addition to pediatric cancer. September has been Childhood Cancer Awareness Month since 2010. Other cancer observance months held in September include:
- Sickle Cell Awareness Month
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month
- Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
- Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
- Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month
- Uterine Cancer Awareness Month
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